Complete your volunteer service with a state, city or local natural resources agency. If you're not sure whether your plans for volunteer service will qualify, check with your course host.

Provide proof to your course host that you have completed your volunteer service (either your volunteer record or a letter from your host/volunteer organization.)

Your course host will pass along notification of your completed service to the state coordinator, who will issue your pin and your newsletter subscription. Make sure that your sponsor has your current address, phone number and email.

Once your information is entered in our state database, you will be added to the IMN email listserv. This will keep you updated on the latest natural resource volunteer opportunities and programs throughout the state. A newsletter with great information is also emailed out quarterly. See the current IMN newsletter.

How to stay active with the IMN program

After you have become certified, you can decide to strive to be an Advanced Indiana Master Naturalist.

Submit proof of the 38 hours to Jody Heaston (jheaston@dnr.IN.gov) by Dec. 20 of the current year along with fee if not paid by then. Include your hours, name, address, host name and class year, a brief description of where you did your volunteer time and education time. Include your name, current address, phone number and email.

Certified Advanced IMNs that have completed these hours and paid annual fee will receive an advanced pin and certificate for that year.

Annual administrative fee of $10 can be paid at anytime of current year. This fee helps to maintain pins and certificates, newsletter notifications, listserv services, covering administrative costs, and supporting the IMN program. A reminder of this fee will be in the winter newsletters. NOTE: If fee is paid and hours are not completed by end of year, the money cannot be refunded. Money will be used to support the IMN program.

To pay the annual $10 fee, please send money along with your name, current address, phone number and email to (make checks payable to IMN):

Questions about the Advanced IMN program can be directed to Jody Heaston at jheaston@dnr.IN.gov or (260) 824-0926.

Indiana Master Naturalist Annual Gathering

As a certified IMN, you are invited to the annual gathering of Indiana Master Naturalists. During this gathering, network with other IMN’s, attend some natural history programs and have fun!

2015 IMN Gathering will be held at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Area, Seymour, on Oct. 16-17. More details to come.

Items to purchase

Patches and nametags are available to Certified Indiana Master Naturalists. To purchase a patch or nametag, you must complete your volunteer service and receive your IMN pin and certificate.

Patches

Patches are approximately 4 ½ inches long x 2 ½ inches wide and feature the IMN logo. They are provided to Certified IMN graduates at cost $4 each courtesy of St. Vincent’s Hospital Wilderness Medicine and EMT Program. To inquire about a patch, contact Jody Heaston (jheaston@dnr.IN.gov). Please do not send money.

Nametags

The nametags, which have the IMN logo, are produced by the IMN group in Allen County. The cost is $7.50 a nametag plus shipping. Nametags can be provided only to Certified IMN graduates. To inquire about a nametag, contact Jody Heaston (jheaston@dnr.IN.gov). Please do not send money. Multiple orders are preferred for mailing purposes.